Book tribute to local war heroes

The inspirational story of 500 men and women who returned home to Pickering after the First World War has been detailed in a new book.

The publication, entitled Beck Isle remembers Pickering’s Returning Heroes, is the result of four years of research to tell the stories of the men and women from the town who served in the war.

The 244-page book is available at Beck Isle Museum.

It has been published by the Beck Isle Museum in Pickering, as part of the centenary commemoration of the end of the First World War.

There are short histories and photographs of those who were in the Navy, the Royal Flying Corps/RAF, the Royal Army Medical Corps, the VAD, WAC as well as the various regiments, which made up the Army.

There is also a chapter about the local women who served as nurses during the war at various military hospitals.

This four-year project was made possible through funding from Arts Council England and Remember Scarborough.

As well as Pickering’s Returning Heroes the museum has researched and produced a Book of Honour which is on permanent display in the museum and a Book of Remembrance which describes the lives of the 79 Pickering men who died in the First World War.

Gordon Clitheroe, museum trustee, said: “It’s important to record these stories and remember the sacrifices that were made by many during the First World War.”

The book includes a foreword from Major General David S Joliffe and also includes many images of Pickering from the museum’s collection.